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Wow. That is fast.

How long did it take get approval and how long did it take get your first payment? My application is rather simple. It is just me. No ex, no kids etc, etc. I have not workedf for a FICA covered employer in over 13 years. I collect a state pension but with the passage of the Social Security Fairness act my pension no longer penalizes me.

Ok.Sorry I offended you. When did I blame anything on Trump? I just stated facts on the status of my applicatio. It is called sarcasm. Some get it, some don't. Also, when I did complain about my life. Life is actually good excecpt for a lack of progress on SSA. Is your life "Sxxt"? Mine is not. Also, I do not classify anything about you as "stupid" because I do not know you or anything about you. You might be stupid as well or not.

Was this before Trump 2.0, DOGE and the Tesla Guy? I just pased 60 days after submitting my SS at 62 online application. The only thing I know is " a representative in Manila is reviewing your application and this process should take 30 days". The 30 days has passed. a month ago. It is a good thing I don't need the money but one has to wonder what is the current state of SSA? My goal for SS has always been to collect somethiing at the earliest age in case it implodes anytime before 2035.

You got me. My highest was 52.

I know it has been really hot but some other places are even hotter. I spent a few months in Kuwait and being outside was the defintion of misery. I saw 48 a few times. Only saving grace was low humidity. As long as one does not have to do manual labor outside then I think most of us will get through it. Just hope the AC doesen't go out or the electricity gets interrupted.

He said Bangkok Bank card? Netflix Thailand accepts Bangkok Bank debit card without issues. This could be an alternative if one wants to consume Neftlix content while in Thaialnd. For Thailand and just about anythiing that comes out of Thailand it is better to use Thaialnd based cards. I have encountered so many problems with using my US based credit cards for business from Thailand(Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways and many hotels). It is has been like this for me for years. Also, how can I use one card from a from a foreign country for a service in Thailand through a local bank? Are you saying that Thailand companies use Thai based banks as payment processors and this is the problem?

I have Netflix Thailand and Bangkok Bank Debit has been acceptedf for monthly payments without problems. Same for Disney Hotstar but had to cancel it due poor content.

On Hegsetth I believe he was never qualified for the position but I doubt he is somekind of Russian agaent. Since when I did I express that I was on "this team"? Again I do not know who or what you are. Also, I do not care to ever know so I do not call you names or label you. What about you?

Same problem here. I can't get the tones just right so the locals many times do not seem to understand what I am saying. I live in Chiang Mai and I once said to a driver "Nimman Soi hoke". He gave me a puzzled look. Then he smiled and said "neeemaan Soieee hoooke". I guess "same, same but different". I gave up years ago on learning the tones of this language. On the otherhand whenever I go to S. Korea I have no problem in communicating in the local language. In essence I will never be able to master any tonal language like Thai.

Again, why am I a Partisan liar? It is no longer KGB. It is now the FSB.

Timing? He just died. He overcome double pnuemonia.

But the meeting looked dignified. Mayb the Pope told Vance how he felt. A man of lifelong service and dignity has died.

I lived in CA for over 50 years. It was good in the 1990's. Things really took a turn in the 2000;s. But CA is also a very big place. I still have hope for Orange County. Most of the bad news comes out from Los Angeles and San Francisco (Bay Area in general and this includes Oakland). Yes the cost of living is unbearable but I have been looking up rentals in Orange County and probaly will move back in early 2026. Irvine CA in the OC has been rated as one of best cities in the nation. Of course it is not cheap to live in a safe city but I am willng to pay at least $2,000 a month for a small studio or 1 Bed. CA will always be home and I plan on making Orange County the next stop in this life. Most of Orange County is the last bastion of conservative thinking in CA.

My point was tax cuts alone were not the driver of the deficts during Bush I and II. After 9-11 the US Governmet went on massive spending spree. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) was created in 2002 and this lead to more massive spending. The official reason for all this massive spending to "Fight the war against terror". I still don't understand what this actually meant.

What about the spending to keep the Iraq and Afghan wars going at the same time? I was deployed to both areas and we were literally throwing money out in both placss. I was told by a Colonel that anwywhere between 1 to 2 Billion per month in A-stan and at a minium 5 Billion per month in Iraq. My unit had a USAID guy attached to us and his mission was to help Afghan locals build schools and in the end he gave away bags of $100 dollar bills to local leaders and declared "mission accomplished". An accurate cost to fund both wars will probably never be accomplished. I think it will be in the trillions and definitely added to the national debt. At this point 36 Trillion and still growing and no plan to address it.

Ok. I am also a troll. Thanks and "yes we can". I get it. I have heard that sayiing in Spanish many times over the years. Mostly while I was part of a riot control team in LA. Were you ever part of a protest in LA in the past?

So you I am still a Partisan liar? If so prove it. Which side so I lean? What exactly do you know about me based upon some comments on this forum? The answer is almsot nothing. I do not know who or what you are. Nor do I care to ever find out.

Partisan Liars? I do not label or call people names. What about you? Total Debt and annual deficits are two different things. Of course running annual deficits will contribute to the overall debt. A 1.4 Trillion drop in the budget deficit still meant the goverment ran a budget deficit and contributed to the overall debt. This does even make sense to you. Of course 9-11, Iraq and A-stan wars came after Clinton left office. These three events contributed to the debt. Two of these were unavoidable. The Debt is mostly a math problem. But when it comes to politics math and logic are secondary. As for target spending, have you actually seen some of the items inserted in spending bills?

There has to be more. As an Asian American in LOS I am often told by Thai people "you not American, you Chinese". Do I have a defammation case?????

When did any Democrat express an interest in Tax Reform without the tired old line of "Tax the rich and make them pay their fair share". This message is dead on arrival. When was the last time any Democrat expressed an interest in spending less? There are two ways to reduce the debt because I don't see how 36 Trillion can be paid off in my lifetime: 1. Reduce spending 2. Increase tax rates for all taxpayers. This would include myself (I am in the lower middle class). Of course these two things will never happen and the debt and interest will continue to grow. I did your questions. This is how any political party can pass just about any law. 1. Win the White House 2. Win a majority in the Senate 3. Win a majority in the House 4. Pass and sign laws that will survive a Supreme Court Challenge. Hmm, I wonder what the balance is in the current make up of the Supreme Court is? Essentially all this talk about the US Debt Problem is like spitting into the wind. No elected politician is actually serious about spending less and increasing taxes. This is beause the primary goal of any elected politician is to win the next election.

So Pelosi was never speaker of the House? I doubt 100% of Republicans would agree on any one subject. Effective leadership at times can accompish "bipartisan" support.

Of course not. Presdient can either sign or not sign it. Only Congress can create new laws. This is called the power of the legislature. Last time I checked Republican Presidents cannot pass lawa as well.

It can be done "tommorrow" then why did it not happen during the 8 years of the Obama administration or the 4 years of the Biden-Harris or Harris-Biden years?

How long would it take to make changes to the US Tax code? Longer than you could you imagine. Too many interested parties with deep pockets to remain "status quo". Lastly, for how long have we Americans heard about going to flat tax rates? About as long as i have been using my CPA to file income taxes (36 years and counting). How much business do you think CPA's and Tax lawyers would lose with flat tax rates?